Versatile Indigenous Artisans Clothing

The Peruvian city of Arequipa is known as La Ciudad Blanca, The White City, due to its colonial-era buildings made from volcanic rock. This UNESCO World Heritage site is also a capital of alpaca wool production. Artisans in Arequipa knit our richly patterned, thigh-length cardigan using a jacquard loom and dozens of warm shades of soft baby alpaca wool. Single button closure at the top. Unlined. 100% baby alpaca.

In Arequipa, Peru, the Casa del Moral, which houses an art collection and library, draws visitors with its architecture that combines Inca and Spanish colonial influences. Its name comes from the mulberry tree that stands in the courtyard. Artisans in Arequipa adapt some of Casa del Moral’s architectural details into this jacquard-knit baby alpaca sweater in shades of sky blue, smoky gray, and marigold.

In a contemporary twist on traditional Irish Aran knitting, our natural ivory cardigan has an asymmetrical wrap style with a single button that creates a cowl-like neck. The textured wool sweaters of the Aran Islands have become a worldwide symbol of Irish culture. The patchwork of different stitches speaks to the ingenuity of generations of knitters.

Indian textile traditions date back more than four millennia. Here, artisans carefully screen-print lengths of cotton with a floral pattern. The cloth is dried in the Jodhpur sun before being transformed into this lightly quilted jacket. Hand-dyed and hand-printed in India in the rich turquoise and blue hues of the peacock, the country’s national bird. Button front. Reverses to solid blue (no pockets on the blue side).

High in the Peruvian Altiplano, people have been using soft, durable alpaca fiber to make warm yet lightweight garments for centuries. Today international markets are being developed for this indigenous craft, which helps sustain artisans in their communities. Aymara and Quechua artisans in Peru use an alpaca blend to create this vivid garment that drapes like silk. Made entirely by hand, it is embellished with hand-knit scalloping at the cuffs and hem, and hand-painted ceramic buttons. Light, soft, easily packable, and wrinkle resistant. Handmade in Peru.

Gurgaon is one of India’s fastest growing cities, but family-run craft studios still flourish amid the international businesses that are fueling the economic boom. Our colorful, lightweight jacket is made in one of these studios. Tie-dyed by hand, each jacket is unique, with hand-embroidered paisley patterns on the front and one large paisley motif on the back. Paisley patterns, based on a stylized mango leaf, have been popular ever since merchant sea captains began bringing Indian textiles back to Europe and the U.S. in the 1700s. Two front patch pockets, fully lined.

Members of the Basu family have been producing vibrant, hand-painted, collectible leather bags in their Kolkata studio for more than 20 years. Colorful flowers and butterflies, inspired by Kolkata’s formal Victoria Garden, decorate this soft and supple handbag. Part of the Anna by Anuschka collection, each is signed on the back. Features inner zip closure, inside zip pocket, two inside patch pockets, outside zip pocket, and outside slot pocket with magnetic clasp. Can be worn over the shoulder or across the body.

Textile arts flourish in the rural villages of western India’s Thar Desert: Wide swaths of hand-block-printed fabrics are laid in the sun to dry. Women in Rajasthan create multicolored fabric mosaics using embroidery and appliqué. And artisans throughout the desert region practice bandhani, a deceptively simple tie-dyeing technique. Intricate patterns are created by wrapping the fabric with string before dyeing it. Bandhani cloth is often used for women’s shawls, but here the technique is adapted for a silky collection of travel-ready garments that drape beautifully and multiply your travel wardrobe.

Textile arts flourish in the rural villages of western India’s Thar Desert: Wide swaths of hand-block-printed fabrics are laid in the sun to dry. Women in Rajasthan create multicolored fabric mosaics using embroidery and appliqué. And artisans throughout the desert region practice bandhani, a deceptively simple tie-dyeing technique. Intricate patterns are created by wrapping the fabric with string before dyeing it. Bandhani cloth is often used for women’s shawls, but here the technique is adapted for a silky collection of travel-ready garments that drape beautifully and multiply your travel wardrobe.

Vibrant patches of silk sari fabric are assembled in this one-of-a-kind, reversible jacket. Crafted in Gujarat, in western India, where a double-ikat style of weaving called patola is a specialty of local artisans. The jacket’s shaping comes from a layer of lightweight quilting. Sari patches will vary; reverses to solid red.